On Sat, 2007-11-10 at 19:45 +0800, Xiaofan Chen wrote:
> http://linux-mag.com/id/4213
> 
> Interestingly the author wrote the following.
> *******************************************************
> It's also worth noting that, while many pundits (and a few users) have
> complained
> about the lack of third-party applications for the iPhone, it hasn't
> stopped the device
> from being wildly successful. The lesson here? While open is
> important, it doesn't
> seem to be a strong selling point for mobile devices. (Or, frankly,
> desktop operating
> systems either.)
> *******************************************************
> 
> So for the author, it is not "open" that sells, but the usability that
> sells. I have to
> agree with him here even though I like things to be "open"

But aren't the two related?

Does open tend to HELP usability?

In the past the answer was not really, these days the answer is less
certain. Look at the progress "open" systems have made in usability.
Many would say they aren't yet there compared to the closed systems we
have, but they are getting damn close.

Oh, as as for the basis of the article being the iPhone. It's LONG been
known that the usability of Apple products isn't really that much better
then much of the competition. Apple is a master of MARKETING, not
necessarily usability. Don't get me wrong, their products are quite good
from the usability department, but if that were the only metric that
determined success Apple products would be nowhere NEAR as popular as
they are.

Apple has done the amazing thing of making their products sexy and
something everybody wants, even though they don't know why they want it.
Many people buy apple products to be "in", despite competitors products
clearly being better, and often come nowhere near to actually using all
the features. Usability is important, but for the masses, "cool" is at
least as important, and Apple has that down pat, for the moment.

TTYL
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist